UF football has No. 1-rated recruiting class

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 11:20 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 12:14 p.m.

Florida coach Will Muschamp now has two Gator legacies in his 2013 class, and, because of it, the No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Orlando Dr. Phillips safety Marcell Harris verbally committed to UF during a ceremony at his high school Thursday morning. He chose the Gators over Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas.

The consensus four-star is one of the top prospects in the nation at his position and boasts an impressive résumé.

With the addition of Harris, the Gators are now ranked No. 1 by ESPN in the team recruiting rankings.

Harris was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game on Oct. 31 and competed in a handful of combines and events last summer, including The Opening and Gridiron Kings.

The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder visited Florida a total of 10 times during his recruitment, but the school felt like home before the process even began. Harris and both of his parents were born and raised in Gainesville, and his grandmother still lives in town. His father, Mike “Mud” Harris, played free safety for UF from 1994-1997 with running back Fred Taylor, whose son Kelvin is committed to the Gators and will enroll early with Marcell in January.

Harris suffered a right knee injury on Oct. 25 that forced him to miss the remainder of his senior season, but he’s expected to be at full strength before UF begins practicing in the spring.

Harris is the 22nd member of Florida’s class and the 10th from the ESPN150.

Florida commit and former Nebraska offensive lineman Tyler Moore is no longer considered a transfer because he is enrolled at St. Petersburg College and has been reclassified as a JUCO prospect.

Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects sign their national letters of intent in February.

<p>Florida coach Will Muschamp now has two Gator legacies in his 2013 class, and, because of it, the No. 1-ranked recruiting class.</p><p>Orlando Dr. Phillips safety Marcell Harris verbally committed to UF during a ceremony at his high school Thursday morning. He chose the Gators over Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas.</p><p>The consensus four-star is one of the top prospects in the nation at his position and boasts an impressive résumé.</p><p>With the addition of Harris, the Gators are now ranked No. 1 by ESPN in the team recruiting rankings.</p><p>Harris was selected to the Under Armour All-American Game on Oct. 31 and competed in a handful of combines and events last summer, including The Opening and Gridiron Kings. </p><p>The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder visited Florida a total of 10 times during his recruitment, but the school felt like home before the process even began. Harris and both of his parents were born and raised in Gainesville, and his grandmother still lives in town. His father, Mike “Mud” Harris, played free safety for UF from 1994-1997 with running back Fred Taylor, whose son Kelvin is committed to the Gators and will enroll early with Marcell in January.</p><p>Harris suffered a right knee injury on Oct. 25 that forced him to miss the remainder of his senior season, but he's expected to be at full strength before UF begins practicing in the spring.</p><p>Harris is the 22nd member of Florida's class and the 10th from the ESPN150. </p><p>Florida commit and former Nebraska offensive lineman Tyler Moore is no longer considered a transfer because he is enrolled at St. Petersburg College and has been reclassified as a JUCO prospect.</p><p>Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects sign their national letters of intent in February.</p>